If you are putting up a small-scale development in Kenya — a single residential unit, a small retail kiosk, a borehole, or a minor renovation — you may fall under NEMA’s “low risk” project category. Low risk projects still require clearance from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) before work begins, but the process is faster and the paperwork lighter than for medium or high risk developments. Understanding the exact fees involved helps you budget accurately and avoid delays at application stage.
What Makes a Project “Low Risk”
Under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA, Cap 387) and the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations, NEMA classifies developments into low, medium, and high risk categories based on their likely environmental impact. The classification criteria are set out in Legal Notice No. 31 of 2019. Low risk projects are typically small in scale, have minimal or easily reversible environmental effects, and are not located in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands, forests, or riparian zones.
Because the anticipated impact is limited, low risk projects only require a Summary Project Report (SPR) rather than a full Environmental Impact Assessment study. This shorter report is what NEMA reviews before issuing the EIA licence.
How the Fees Are Calculated
NEMA’s EIA processing and monitoring fee is charged as a percentage of your total project cost, as declared in a certified Bill of Quantities (BQ) submitted with your application. A minimum fee applies regardless of project size, and a maximum cap protects low risk applicants from paying disproportionately high amounts even where project costs are sizeable. All payments are made online through the eCitizen–NEMA licensing portal at the point of application.
Fee Summary Table
| Item | Fee / Charge |
|---|---|
| EIA processing and monitoring fee | 0.1% of total declared project cost |
| Minimum fee payable | Ksh. 10,000 |
| Fee cap – Low Risk projects | Ksh. 2,000,000 |
| Licence surrender, transfer, or variation | Ksh. 5,000 |
| SPR review timeline | Within 5 working days |
| Acknowledgement of submitted report | Within 24 hours of receipt |
Fees are based on NEMA’s official Customer Service Delivery Charter (2025–2027). Always confirm current figures on the eCitizen–NEMA portal before submitting payment, as schedules are reviewed periodically.
What You Need Before Applying
To apply for a low risk EIA licence, you will generally need:
- A certified Bill of Quantities showing the total project cost
- Title deed or a signed lease agreement for the project site
- An approved change of user from the County Physical Planning department, where applicable
- A Summary Project Report prepared by a NEMA-registered EIA expert
- Proof of payment of the prescribed fee via the eCitizen platform
Why the Fee Cap Matters
The Ksh. 2,000,000 cap is particularly useful for low risk developers whose project costs are high in absolute terms but whose environmental footprint remains minimal. Without the cap, the 0.1% formula could otherwise produce fees disproportionate to the actual review effort required for a straightforward SPR.
Budgeting for a low risk EIA licence in Kenya comes down to three numbers: 0.1% of your project cost, a Ksh. 10,000 floor, and a Ksh. 2,000,000 ceiling. Beyond the fee itself, engaging a registered EIA expert early and preparing accurate project cost documentation will keep your application moving through NEMA’s five-working-day SPR review window without unnecessary back-and-forth. For projects you are unsure about — particularly those near sensitive ecosystems or with larger footprints — it is worth confirming your risk classification with NEMA before submitting, since a misclassified application can mean a costlier and longer review process than anticipated.
